Frame assembly and method for installing a window pane in an opening of a panel

Abstract

A frame assembly ( 1 ) and a method for installing a window pane ( 3 ) in an opening ( 5 ) of a panel ( 7 ). The assembly ( 1 ) includes an outer frame ( 9 ) having connecting devices ( 15 ) and an abutment member ( 17 ). The assembly ( 1 ) also includes an inner frame ( 19 ) provided with first connecting devices ( 25 ). The first connecting devices ( 25 ) cooperate with the connecting devices ( 15 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ) for disengageably connecting the outer and inner frames ( 9, 19 ). The assembly ( 1 ) also includes locking device ( 28 ) having at least one flexible element ( 31 ) cooperating with one of the frames ( 9, 19 ) for locking the locking device ( 28 ) in locking position, and at least one contacting element ( 33 ) for holding the window pane ( 3 ) in position with aid of the abutment member ( 17 ) when the locking device ( 28 ) is in the locking position.

1 . A frame assembly ( 1 ) for installing a window pane ( 3 ) in an opening ( 5 ) of a panel ( 7 ), the assembly ( 1 ) comprising: 
 an outer frame ( 9 ) having a peripheral wall ( 11 ) shaped for fitting and extending into the opening ( 5 ), on an outer side ( 13 ) of the panel ( 7 ), the wall ( 11 ) having along periphery thereof connecting means ( 15 ) and an abutment member ( 17 );    an inner frame ( 19 ) having a peripheral wall ( 21 ) shaped for fitting and extending into the opening ( 5 ), on an inner side ( 23 ) of the panel ( 7 ), the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ) having along periphery thereof first connecting means ( 25 ) cooperating with the connecting means ( 15 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ) for disengageably connecting the outer and inner frames ( 9 ,  19 ); and    a locking means ( 28 ) having at least one flexible element ( 31 ) cooperating with one of the frames ( 9 ,  19 ) for locking the locking means ( 28 ) in locking position, and at least one contacting element ( 33 ) for holding the window pane ( 3 ) in position with aid of the abutment member ( 17 ) when the locking means ( 28 ) is in said locking position.    
     
     
         2 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with a second connecting means ( 27 ) cooperating with the at least one flexible element ( 31 ) for locking the locking means ( 28 ) in said locking position.  
     
     
         3 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the connecting means ( 15 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ) includes a plurality of tab members ( 35 ) each having a transversal side notch ( 37 ) and wherein the first connecting means ( 25 ) includes a plurality of flexible elements ( 39 ) cooperating with the corresponding transversal side notches ( 37 ) for connecting the frames ( 9 ,  19 ) together.  
     
     
         4 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said tab members ( 35 ) is provided with a recessed channel ( 41 ) allowing access to the flexible elements ( 39 ) of the first connecting means ( 25 ) from the inner side ( 23 ).  
     
     
         5 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 4 , wherein the wall ( 11 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ) is provided with guiding portions ( 36 ), and the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with guiding elements ( 40 ) shaped for cooperating with the corresponding guiding portions ( 36 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ).  
     
     
         6 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the second connecting means ( 27 ) includes a plurality of transversal side notches ( 43 ) provided on the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ), the locking means ( 28 ) includes several locking members ( 29 ), said at least one flexible element ( 31 ) comprises several flexible elements ( 31 ), and said at least one contacting member ( 33 ) comprises several contacting elements ( 33 ), each of the locking members ( 29 ) being each provided with one of said flexible elements ( 31 ) and one of said contacting elements ( 33 ), said flexible elements ( 31 ) cooperating with the corresponding transversal side notches ( 43 ) for locking the locking means ( 28 ) in locking position.  
     
     
         7 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the locking means ( 28 ) comprises links ( 45 ) for linking the locking members ( 29 ) into a locking frame ( 47 ) shaped for fitting and extending into the inner frame ( 19 ) from the inner side ( 23 ).  
     
     
         8 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 7 , wherein the locking frame ( 47 ) comprises at least two sections ( 56 ) each provided with female and male extremities ( 57 ,  58 ) for disengageably connecting the at least two sections ( 56 ).  
     
     
         9 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the contacting elements ( 33 ) are V-shaped and each of said locking members ( 29 ) has a grasping portion ( 48 ) for handling thereof by a user.  
     
     
         10 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with recessed channels ( 49 ) allowing access to said flexible elements ( 31 ) from the inner side ( 23 ).  
     
     
         11 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , wherein the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with guiding elements ( 51 ), and each of said locking members ( 29 ) is provided with side edges ( 53 ) shaped for cooperating with the corresponding guiding elements ( 51 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ).  
     
     
         12 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with a peripheral flexible lip ( 55 ) shaped for contacting the panel ( 7 ) on the inner side ( 23 ).  
     
     
         13 . The frame assembly ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the frames ( 9 ,  19 ) and locking means ( 28 ) are each made of a single piece of injection molded plastic.  
     
     
         14 . A method for installing a window pane ( 3 ) in an opening ( 5 ) of a panel ( 7 ), the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) mounting an outer frame ( 9 ) on an outer side ( 13 ) of the panel ( 7 ), the outer frame ( 9 ) having a peripheral wall ( 11 ) shaped for fitting and extending into the opening ( 5 ), the wall ( 11 ) having along periphery thereof connecting means ( 15 ) and an abutment member ( 17 );    b) mounting an inner frame ( 19 ) on an inner side ( 23 ) of the panel ( 7 ), the inner frame ( 19 ) having a peripheral wall ( 21 ) shaped for fitting and extending into the opening ( 5 ), the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ) having along periphery thereof first connecting means ( 25 ) cooperating with the connecting means ( 15 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ) for disengageably connecting the outer and inner frames ( 9 ,  19 );    c) after steps a) and b), mounting the window pane ( 3 ) into the opening ( 5 ) on the inner side ( 23 ) against the abutment member ( 17 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ); and    d) after step c), mounting a locking means ( 28 ) on the inner frame ( 19 ) to hold the window pane ( 3 ) against the abutment member ( 17 ), the locking means ( 28 ) having at least one flexible element ( 31 ) cooperating with one of the frames ( 9 ,  19 ) for locking the locking means ( 28 ) in locking position, and at least one contacting element ( 33 ) for holding the window pane ( 3 ) in position with aid of the abutment member ( 17 ) when the locking means ( 28 ) is in said locking position.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein, in step b), the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with a second connecting means ( 27 ) cooperating with the at least one flexible element ( 31 ) for locking the locking means ( 28 ) in said locking position.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein, in step b), the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with a peripheral flexible lip ( 55 ) shaped for contacting the panel ( 7 ) on the inner side ( 23 ) and the method further comprises the step of adjusting the flexible lip ( 55 ) according to a thickness of the panel ( 7 ).  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein, in step a), the connecting means ( 15 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ) includes a plurality of tab members ( 35 ) each having a transversal side notch ( 37 ) and wherein, in step b), the first connecting means ( 25 ) includes a plurality of flexible elements ( 39 ) cooperating with the corresponding transversal side notches ( 37 ) for connecting the frames ( 9 ,  19 ) together.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein, in step a), each of said tab members ( 35 ) is provided with a recessed channel ( 41 ) for allowing access to the flexible elements ( 39 ) of the first connecting means ( 25 ) from the inner side ( 23 ).  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein, in step b), the second connecting means ( 27 ) includes a plurality of transversal side notches ( 43 ) provided on the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ), in step d), the locking means ( 28 ) includes several locking members ( 29 ), said at least one flexible element ( 31 ) of the locking means ( 28 ) comprises several flexible elements ( 31 ), and said at least one contacting member ( 33 ) comprises several contacting elements ( 33 ), each of the locking members ( 29 ) being each provided with one of said flexible elements ( 31 ) of the locking means ( 28 ) and one of said contacting elements ( 33 ), said flexible elements ( 31 ) of the locking means ( 28 ) cooperating with the corresponding transversal side notches ( 43 ) for locking the locking means ( 28 ) in locking position.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein, in step b), the wall ( 21 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ) is provided with recessed channels ( 49 ) allowing access to the flexible elements ( 31 ) of the locking means ( 28 ) from the inner side ( 23 ).  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , further comprising, for removing the window pane ( 3 ), the steps of: 
 e) after step d), inserting a tool ( 50 ) into each of the recessed channels ( 49 ) of the inner frame ( 19 ) for disengaging the locking members ( 29 ) from the inner frame ( 19 ); and    f) after step e), removing the window pane ( 3 ).    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising, for disengaging the frames ( 9 ,  19 ) from each other, the step of: 
 g) after step f), inserting the tool ( 50 ) into each of the recessed channels ( 41 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ) for disengaging the frames ( 9 ,  19 ) from each other.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising, for mounting a new window pane ( 3 ), the steps of: 
 g) after step f), mounting the new window pane ( 3 ) into the opening ( 5 ) on the inner side ( 23 ) against the abutment member ( 17 ) of the outer frame ( 9 ); and    h) after step g), connecting the locking members ( 29 ) to the inner frame ( 19 ) for locking the locking means ( 28 ) in locking position.